Astros should repeat history, field all-rookie team in September

Share this:

Morgan, Wynn, Staub. We know their names now. Then, they were just a bunch of rookies. Might the next generation look back and remember Altuve, Martinez and Paredes?

Back in 1963 – a few seasons before they were Astros – Houston made history with an all-rookie starting lineup in front of 5,802 fans. It hadn’t been done before and it hasn’t been done since.

But the time is ripe for one of those once-in-a-generation accomplishments and the Astros could — maybe should — repeat history. While they may not challenge the average age of that 1963 lineup — starting pitcher Jay Dahl was only 17 — the all-rookie starting lineup is certainly not out of the question.

Nearly five decades later, could Houston do it again? Would it be perceived as a publicity stunt or just the icing on the cake of a realization and salute to the Astros’ youth movement. Actually, most of the all-rookie lineup is already in place at Minute Maid park. Only first base and shortstop need to be filled in, so it is certainly within reach. Here’s the proposed lineup. By the way, thanks to Zachary Levine for helping to confirm the status of some of these players.

Catcher: Carlos Corporan.

First base: Kody Hinze

Second base: Jose Altuve.

Shortstop: Wladimir Sutil/Jonathan Villar

Third base: Jimmy Paredes

Left field: J.D. Martinez

Center field: J.B. Shuck

Right field: Brian Bogusevic

SP: Jordan Lyles

RP: Aneury Rodriguez.

RP: David Carpenter.

RP: Fernando Rodriguez.

RP: Enerio Del Rosario

RP: Sergio Escalona

All of the above players are either on the 40-man roster or have been with the Astros already this season — except for Kody Hinze and Wladimir Sutil. Hinze is hitting .308 with 28 HR and 86 RBI at Lancaster and Corpus Christi. Either Sutil or Villar are options for shortstop, either of which the Astros could choose. Quite obviously, there are enough rookie pitchers on the roster to string together a complete game and involve multiple players in the experience.

The essential challenge is not being able to field the necessary players, but clearing space on the 40-man roster to add the necessary pieces. Teams can expand their active roster beyond the regular-season 25-man limit on September 1, but the players who are called up must be listed on the 40-man roster. Since that roster is currently full, the Astros would need to remove two players before adding Hinze and Sutil or Villar, none of whom are on the 40-man. That could happen through a trade, release or moving a player from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.

The Astros may have a couple of opportunities to field their all-rookie team in September. Obviously, due to the “integrity of the game” issues, MLB and contenders might frown on the lineup playing against a team still in the playoff hunt. But a three-game series against Colorado to kick off the final homestand of the season (Sept. 22-25) would provide a perfect platform. The Astros could also choose the final series of the year against the Cardinals — if they’re out of the race by then — but that would be a Monday-Wednesday series and might not attract the desired attention (does the season really end on a Wednesday?).

Finally, playing the all-rookie lineup will be a long-time memory — perhaps highlight – for an awful and forgettable season. But perhaps more significantly, it will be a reward for the young rookies like Martinez, Shuck and Paredes, who won’t have a full — or even half — a season to chase possible rookie of the year awards.

Indeed, it was a great September night in ’63, and the Astros should should plan now to repeat history in September 2011.